Ssangyong Korando Towbar Shortage

Holtrover
Holtrover Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited March 2018 in Towcars & Towing #1

Having just bought a Ssangyong Korando four months old, we never expected to have such a struggle to get a tow bar. Many places offer to fit us one until they find there is no stock of the bar available. We have been on the phone for two weeks now with no success.

As it was voted Towcar of the Year 2018, we thought great, but now have to cancel holidays booked with no idea of when stock may come available.

So please be aware even if you buy a new one with the promise of a free tow bar as members of caravan club, the dealers cant get a tow bar either.

If anyone knows of a tow bar in stock anywhere we would be most grateful for any information

Thanks

Comments

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited March 2018 #2

    You have not said where you are located but P F Jones appear to have stock.

    P F Jones

  • scoutman
    scoutman Club Member Posts: 441 ✭✭✭
    edited March 2018 #3

    My Korando is fitted with a Witter towbar, just checked Witter website, they state that both fixed and detachable types are out of stock. I can't find another manufacturer that makes towbars for the latest Korando. Must be very frustrating for you.

  • atatulpha
    atatulpha Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited April 2018 #4

    I have a Korando on order since early March. It is now taxed but we can’t take delivery until the tow ar is fitted.

    As the Caravan needs to go for service this week (20th April) we need to keep the trade in vehicle until the caravan is back in stoarage,

     

    We will probably take delivery of the new car without the tow ar until the tow barons are in stock. The dealer has 13 Korandos awaiting tow bars to be fitted. Seems there is also now an issue with the Misubishi townars as well.

    As it is a Ssangyong offer with the caravan club we have to wait for them to fit it.

  • twocals
    twocals Forum Participant Posts: 117 ✭✭
    edited April 2018 #5

    Have you tried Ssangyong owners club website ?http://www.ssangyongclub.co.uk

    They have lots of contacts within the Ssangyong group and may be able to sort you out.

     

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2018 #6

    I had an Email from the Club yesterday promoting their 'free towbar' with the Ssangyong. CAMC are obviously blissfully unaware of the situation.

  • Extugger
    Extugger Forum Participant Posts: 1,293
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2018 #7

    Towcar of the Year?? And you can't get a tow bar? Really?

    Sorry, but there are other makes out there (with better reviews) and I would be telling your salesman where to put his Korando. The 'free' offer of something which is non existent, is hardly a selling point, particularly when it's available at other marques.

    It's also a great bargaining tool - "Throw in a tow bar and we'll have it"

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2018 #8

    same here cyberyacht, and I though why advertise the free tow bar when they cannot supply the owners now. typical club approach as run by advertisers not member. membership fees are a pitance compaired with advertising costs.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2018 #9

    Likewise.

    Seems that the CC are just blissfully unaware of most things. 

  • spg123
    spg123 Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited April 2018 #10

    I placed an order for a new Korando 5th March and I am still waiting to take delivery. My supplying dealer tells me that there is a shortage of electrics for the Korando towbars which can only be supplied by Ssangyong. Until I had seen these discussions I was doubting whether I was being told the truth. Apparently stock has arrived and I can expect delivery next week.

     

     

  • steveandliza
    steveandliza Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited April 2018 #11

    Does anyone have an update re the towbars,  we expected our Korando to be delivered last week but have been told that because we are in West Wales we have to wait for the Transporter to come this way to have our car (its only in Bristol) Having read this thread I am now wondering if its delayed because of the Towbar.

    Wish the dealer would just be honest as we have t trips booked and need to make alternative arrangements if this is the problem.

    thanks for any help

  • Gallicamp
    Gallicamp Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited May 2018 #12
    • I bought a Korando in the middle of March and got a Witter detachable towbar and wiring kit fitted within a week by dealer which only got franchise 2 weeks before and there was no mention there was problem getting them
  • penguinpete
    penguinpete Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited May 2018 #13

    Hi guys, I have just purchased a new karando ELX and the garage were I got it from in Ipswich Suffolk put a towbar on the next day for £340. I was going to get the club's deal of free towbar but that is only for seven pin electrics, 13pin was extra.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2018 #14

    7 pin 12N socket? Just goes to show how in touch th CC realy is sealed

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited May 2018 #15

    I’ve just accessed the Towsure site, which allowed me to specify a Witter bar for your car. I too it as far as the checkout before cancelling, without any ‘out of stock’ warnings.

  • Simon M
    Simon M Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited May 2018 #16

    Hi Just got my new Korando.

    Still issues with towbars in UK. They are trying to source them from Holland to no avail. Towbar fitted just in time for my holiday thank goodness. The Ssangyong dealer was superb, he contacted their head office to obtain my detachable swan neck towbar.

    The dealer said that they will fit either 7 pin or 13 pin at no extra cost to the customer, customers choice of which connector they would like. 

    P.S. Tell them not to wire the electrics up to the day running lights as mine were, got to go back to have it sorted.

    Can`t turn the caravan lights off if they are wired this way, it`s a right pain .

    Witter has told me that they need to be wired up to the main car lights so that the caravan lights can be switched on and off as needed.

    Hope this helps!

  • twocals
    twocals Forum Participant Posts: 117 ✭✭
    edited May 2018 #17

    Can`t turn the caravan lights off if they are wired this way, it`s a right pain .

    Why would you want to turn off the lights..? 

    On our korando DRL'S also include rear and numbetplate lights which is repeated on the van.

    Interestingly the rear fog lights on the car don't work with the van on but they work on the van. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2018 #18

    Most rear fog lights are wired like this to prevent them from reflecting off the front of the caravan.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited May 2018 #19

    My caravan lights are on all the time with the DRL's, why is that a problem.

  • cricketscotty
    cricketscotty Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited July 2018 #20

    I am awaiting delivery of a new Korando and there has belen no mention of any supply problems with the tow bar does anybody know if these have eased now. 

  • cricketscotty
    cricketscotty Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited December 2018 #21

    I purchased a new Korando in July 2018 and didn't have any problems with the supply of the tow bar however I paid the dealer an additional £110 to have a detachable one fitted but upon taking delivery I discovered that the tow ball is only detachable if you have a socket set and are prepared to lay on the floor to access the two bolts not what I call detachable 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2018 #22

    get your money back as that is a fixed towball. think you've been scammed there.

  • backshiftbill
    backshiftbill Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited January 2019 #23

    just been quoted £400 for fit at home, check out Lomond auto electrics,

    they also fitted my caravan mover at home, hope this helps

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited January 2019 #24

    Sounds very reasonable but I would want to know the make. It cost over £500 for a Brink fixed bar on our Mazda and the quotes I heard for other makes when at the fitting centre were generally higher.

  • backshiftbill
    backshiftbill Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited January 2019 #25

    just had the job completed , witter fixed (no parking sensors),now ready for the coming season.

  • DS3
    DS3 Forum Participant Posts: 108
    edited January 2019 #26

    Got a tow bar for our Rexton W no problem, Dealer wanted close to £650. I did laugh as a tow bar is £130, electrics which are plug and play are around £80, plus an hour to fit it. Should be closer to £340, and that is all I was prepared to pay. What makes it worse, is 99% of the time, they employ a mobile tow bar specialist to do it anyway. Forget factory fit, just sort out a mobile tow bar fitter, it will more than likely be cheaper, and still what you would have got at the dealer.

    The only car I have had a tow bar fitted by the dealer was my Volvo V70, it was actually cheaper than a mobile guy and it was a Thule tow bar.